PRAYAGRAJ, Sept. 10 -- : Police have uncovered illegal firecracker storage and manufacturing activities in Pratapgarh and Kaushambi during intensified inspections following the August 31 firecracker factory blast in Kaushambi that claimed 14 lives, including nine minors.

In Pratapgarh, police on Wednesday arrested a youth for allegedly running a firecracker business without a valid licence. The action was taken during an inspection conducted under the direction of SDM Ajay Kumar Yadav and CO Manoj Raghuvanshi.

Police reached the firecracker factory of Mohd Hamza, a resident of Maghi Chaingadh village, to verify his licence. The licence issued for the factory had expired, and Hamza was allegedly operating the business without renewing it...